Mia Margherita's looks forward to a jazzy summer

BRIDGEPORT — Mia Margherita’s Mia Music Series is off to a toe-tapping start with its concert on Saturday, featuring The Cool Cats Jazz Band with two different shows.

The shows, one at 7 p.m. and one at 9 p.m., are part of the wider selection of music Mia Margherita will be offering weekly throughout the summer. While the style of sound will stay consistent, a large variety of musicians will participate in the program.

“Each show will be different because of the different guest artist, but each will have the same Cool Cats s tyle,” said Aaron Banks, Mia Margarita’s manager.

The Cool Cats, the first concert’s headliners, are led by Seth Maynard (vocals, guitar) who is joined by Adam Loudin (trumpet), Rich Norwood (alto sax), Kyle Andrews (drums) and Chris McGraw (bass).

“The Cool Cats have an amazing ability to take songs people love and do them in a way that people love even more,” said Eric Spelsberg, president of the West Virginia Jazz Society. “You could say they ‘jazz them up.’”

Acting as a “house band” for the Jazz Society, The Cool Cats formerly came together in 2016. The band was formed in part to help back up special guests brought in to West Virginia from other parts of the jazz world.

Specials guests at the concert include Rachael Franks, a jazz singer from Elkins who performs covers of such artists as Billie Holiday and Aretha Franklin, and Jeff Bush, a trombone specialist from Pittsburgh who has worked on HBO’s “The Sopranos.”

Maynard, The Cool Cats leader, believes one of the biggest perks of their status as the Jazz Society’s band is the chance to play with gifted artists. While names like Marshall Keys might not be common knowledge, in the Jazz world they hold great clout, he added.

“(Playing with special guests) is a fantastic fun time,” Maynard said. “It really elevates the music.”

Under Spelsberg’s leadership, the West Virginia Jazz Society has hosted numerous concerts, some featuring The Cool Cats, and some with big-name, out-of-state bands like The Bop.

“Jazz is a universal language,” Spelsberg said. “I’ve seen Russian cats go on YouTube and learn a piece of American jazz overnight.”

Spelsberg is happy to help bring jazz to Appalachia. In a state that tends to focus more on folksy music, he believes his preferred genre to be underrepresented.

“If we were doing bluegrass or country, we’d have competition,” Spelsberg said. “But we’re the only ones around here doing jazz.”

Jazz has had a long and storied history, now over 100 years, and that’s something Maynard likes to bring out when he’s playing.

“In a wider sense of the word, jazz really is the history of our own country,” Maynard. “There’s something unique about sharing history through music. It’s a wonderful thing.”

Reservations are available for both shows by calling 304-808-6400. There will be a $10 cover charge at the door and a $15 food/drink minimum.

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